• International Viewpoint is a unique 1 socialist magazine. Published fortnightly, in tandem with the French language inprecor, IVP brings together news analysis from socialists in more than forty countries.
In the last two years IVP's coverage of eastern Europe and the Middle East before and during the Gulf war were un• rivalled on the left. Can you afford not to I subscribe to IVP? 1 Please send me a subscription for 11 year £21 0 6 months £11 O I Name " Address 1 Please make cheques out to PEC and return to: 2 | Rue Richard Lenoir, 93108 Montreuil, France June 8, 1991 No. 3 ternationa NEWPOINT Cuba under siege opportunistic and play the cont munalist game, they are not nearly so committed to Hindu nationalism as the BJP. That is the vital dividing line in Indian politics today. ON: Why, when the economic crisis is so great, is communalism and secularism the crucial dividing line?
AV: Because of the failure of Cos. Nas and ite derivative par.
is largely confined to the north and north-east of the country bartıculary in lunab an Kashmir But even these nationalist movements are very concentrated on the issue of religious identity.
There is a strong link between communalism and nationalism. class basis is very dangerous for the Hindu communalists like the BJP, because it breaks the fake unity of Hindus. But it has yet to be seen whether class or caste conflict will interrupt the progress of Hindu communalism. ON: Is India affected by the debt crisis?
AV: India is in a special position because although not an imperialist country it has built a substantial industrial base.Partially this was achieved because India Was an economy dominated by state enterprises after 1947 and largely sealed off from the world economy. But from the late 1970s onwards the Indian bourgeoisie decided consciously to try to reintegrate India with the world economy to promote growth - but this has government before its fall last year. It is a paradox that India is one of the tew countries wnere perestroika and the international Stalinist crisis has not yet led o profound splits or decline To the left of the two CPs there are a number of Maoist groups,and they amount to periaps 35,000 cadres. This again is a big obstacle for revolutionary socialists.
In truth. socialism amounts to just a few hundred people in India.
This is a major historic weakness for the socialist left internationally. But in the next period, we are going to see indian politics in turmoil and crisis. Opportunities for growth will continue to exist, but it will be a hard struggle.
Nakia
At ADed Agoradi International News